Hydraulic propulsion system

ABSTRACT

An hydraulic propulsion system of the type employing a pair of drive rotors intersecting fluid flow in an hydraulic conduit. At least one of the rotors is laterally displaceable with respect to the other, so as to vary the degree of engagement of the rotors with fluid flow.

1451 Jan. 1, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Broes Gold Wiggermann...Frobeen..........................

HHHHH 70729 552500 6 233 46575 54970 2 233 CC M Emu Tom sw g n.m N a omw1 m C U Pm m m k Pmm r r. WFAM II-Pm M m t Dm Y y flimA 5 3 577 FOREIGN[22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 237,717

346,766 7/1960 Sweden.........,.......................418/19 PrimaryExaminer-ClarenceR. Gordon 41 9 Aztorney-David H. Semmes Int.

[57] ABSTRACT An hydraulic propulsion system of the type employing 1[58] Field of Search 60/221,

19, 29; 115/16 :1 pair of drive rotors intersecting fluid flow in anhydraulic conduit. At least one of the rotors is laterally displaceablewith respect to the other, so as to vary [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the degree of engagement of the rotors with fluid flow.

2,369,996 2/1945 115/16 UX 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAH 1I974 SHEEI 1 BF 3 PATENTEDMH 1 i974 sum as? 3 PATENTEDJAH 1 m4 saw aur sFIG. 5

HYDRAULIC PROPULSION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention Marine propulsion systems, particularly a hydro jet drivesystem. Recent inventors have devoted attention to hydraulic propulsionsystems for seagoing vessels wherein one or more rotors are used toengage fluid flowing through a conduit, so as to jet the fluid outwardlyof the vessel and thereby drive the vessel upon a predetermined forward,lateral or astern course. Such systems have used various techniques forvarying the jetting of the fluid, so as to propel the vessel in avariety of directions. Also, some attention has been given to varyingthe rate of drive, so as to control the speed of the vessel. However,scant attention has been given to varying the pitch of the rotors or thedegree of rotor engagement with fluid flow as a drive control.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Forlano U.S. Pat. No. 2,467,022 is typical of marine propulsion systemswherein two longitudinally extending tubes with lateral and rearbranches are used, together with driving propellors to push the vesselfrom side to side, forward or astern. Forlano attempts to provideprecise controls through the use of iris type valves which constrictfluid flow through the tubes. There is no suggestion of varyingpropellor pitch or the degree of engagement of the propellors 25 withfluid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a marine orhydraulic propulsion system is provided with controlled, variable pitchdrive by displacement of the drive rotors laterally with respect to eachother, so that their engagement with fluid flow is varied. The rotorsare mounted upon a pair ofdrive shafts which may be laterally displacedby means of a worm drive gear or the like. Alternatively, one of therotors may be displaced laterally by mounting in a yoke which isreciprocated by means of an hydraulically actuated piston. Thepropulsion drive housing may be closed by means of a gate for shutdownand repair. Also, deflecting blades may be employed to intersectthefluid flow conduit at either side of the drive housing, so as to directfluid'flow in a variety ofpropelling attitudes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded, fragmentaryview of the propulsion unit housing intersecting the fluid flow conduitand showing in superposition the drive and lateral displacementelements;

FIG. 2 is a top plan, partially in section, of the fluid flow conduitand drive housing;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the drive housing, taken along sectionline 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the drivehousingfshowing the worm drive mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section, taken along section line 5-5 of FIG. 2,showing a gate blocking mechanism for the fluid flow conduit; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan of a modification, wherein a ratchetmechanism is used for displacing the rotor drive shafts laterally withrespect to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I fluid flowconduits and 22 are shown in axial alignment, so as to communicate withdrive housing chamber 10 defined in housing lower block 18. A pair ofpropulsion rotors l2 and 14 are mounted respectively upon shafts l3 and16 and include radially extending vanes. Drive shafts 13 and 16 extendrespectively through elongated apertures 34 and 36 in top plate 32, forrotatable seating in drive blocks 42 and 44. Drive blocks 42 and 44 mayhave lower flanges 43 and 45 which slottedly engage the underside oftracks 38 and 40.

Drive block 42 is supported upon cylindrical bearings 50 and 52extending through apertures 48 and 46, respectively, and drive block 44is mounted upon cylindrical bearings 54 and 56 extending throughapertures 60 and 58, respectively. Individual support rods 62 and 64 mayextend through the aligned bearings so that blocks are laterallydisplaceable upon rods 62 and 64, as the block bottom flanges 43 and 45engage tracks 38 and 40. The individual shafts 14 and 16 may be drivenby electric motors 66, 68 or the like having their drive shaft extendingthrough bearing blocks 70 and 72, which in turn may be secured by themeans of bolts or the like to the individual drive blocks 42 and 44. Thespeed of rotation of the shafts, thus, may be readily varied.

According to one modification of the invention and as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, shafts l4 and 16 are laterally displaceable withrespect to each other by means of a worm drive shaft having threadedends 82 and 84 engaging ball bearing 86 and hub 88 seated in apertures90 in the drive blocks 42 and 44. Upon rotation of worm gear 78 by meansof drive motor 74 with its shaft extending through bearing block 76, theshaft 80 is turned so as to laterally displace the blocks with respectto each other. Alternatively to the worm gear arrangement, an hydrauliccylinder 92 with its shaft engaging plate 95 afflxed to block 44 may beused to displace block 44 laterally with respect to block 42 or shaft 13may be fitted into yoke 94 which is displaceable laterally by means ofpiston 93 and hydraulic cylinder 91.

In the modification of invention illustrated in FIG. 6, blocks 66' and68' may be laterally displaced by means of piston 108 having shaft 110engaging block 68', so that spur gear 108 engages the respectiveratchets I04 and 106 to laterally displace the shafts with respect toeach other.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conduits 20 and 22 may be gated or valvedshut by means of gate valves 24 and 26, driven respectively by hydraulicpistons 28 and 30.

Also, the individual conduits 20 and 22 may be gated by means ofobliquely intersecting vanes 98 and 102, driven respectively byhydraulic cylinders 96 and 100. These vanes are used principally, todivert jet flow in order to vary the direction of propulsion.

As will be apparent, the gates 24 and 26 may be closed and plate 32removedfor shutdown, disassembly and repair or the like of theindividual rotors l0 and 12.

Manifestly, the rotors, as well as the means of their lateraldisplacement may be varied without the depart- C. a pair of drive rotorsrotatedly mounted within housing such that both said rotors intersectthe flow of fluid through said conduit and said housing; at least one ofsaid rotors being laterally displaceable with respect to said otherrotor, so as to vary the degree of rotor engagement with respect tofluid flow; said rotors being mounted upon separate drive shaftsextending perpendicularly with respect to said conduit and each saidshaft having an independent rotor drive;

D. a rotor drive connected to said rotors.

E. a pair of gate valves positionable on either side of said drivehousing so as to limit fluid flow;

F. at least one directional flow vane intersecting said conduit adjacentsaid drive housing, so as to jet said fluid in a variety of directionswith respect to said conduit; and

G. a worm gear mechanism interconnecting both said drive shafts, so asto laterally displace said shafts with respect to each other. 2. Anhydraulic propulsion unit as in claim 1, including a ratchet mechanisminterconnecting said drive 5 shafts, so as to laterally adjust saidshafts and said rotors with respect to each other.

3. An hydraulic propulsion unit as in claim 1, said drive housingfurther including:

worm gear mechanism being interposed intermediate said blocks andengaging each said block.

1. An hydraulic propulsion unit comprising: A. an hydraulic conduit through which fluid flows; B. a drive housing defining an enlarged chamber medially of said conduit; C. a pair of drive rotors rotatedly mounted within housing such that both said rotors intersect the flow of fluid through said conduit and said housing; at least one of said rotors being laterally displaceable with respect to said other rotor, so as to vary the degree of rotor engagement with respect to fluid flow; said rotors being mounted upon separate drive shafts extending perpendicularly with respect to said conduit and each said shaft having an independent rotor drive; D. a rotor drive connected to said rotors. E. a pair of gate valves positionable on either side of said drive housing so as to Limit fluid flow; F. at least one directional flow vane intersecting said conduit adjacent said drive housing, so as to jet said fluid in a variety of directions with respect to said conduit; and G. a worm gear mechanism interconnecting both said drive shafts, so as to laterally displace said shafts with respect to each other.
 2. An hydraulic propulsion unit as in claim 1, including a ratchet mechanism interconnecting said drive shafts, so as to laterally adjust said shafts and said rotors with respect to each other.
 3. An hydraulic propulsion unit as in claim 1, said drive housing further including: i. a top plate with elongated apertures through which each of said shafts extends; ii. a drive shaft block track mounted upon said top plate, and iii. drive shaft blocks for each of said shafts slottedly engaging said track.
 4. An hydraulic propulsion unit as in claim 1, said worm gear mechanism being interposed intermediate said blocks and engaging each said block. 